Motorized Inflatable Pool Lounger

ABSTRACT

A motorized inflatable raft includes independently controllable propellers to propel the raft. The propellers are part of a propeller control assembly that includes a power source and a joystick for control. Direction of motion is controlled by rotating independent propeller control assemblies using a joystick controller. Power is supplied by batteries in a battery housing, and application of power to the propellers is controlled by the joystick. Assembly is simplified using an easily screwed screw cap that securely fastens a battery housing that is connected through tubing to the propeller to the joystick controller.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

Embodiments relate generally to inflatable rafts. More specifically, embodiments relates to inflatable rafts, and pool loungers, in particular, that are configured to accept two propellers or motors, one on each side of the raft that are individually controllable by an operator.

Background

Inflatable rafts, also sometimes referred to as inflatable loungers, such as those used in swimming pools or lakes are well known. Generally, a user inflates the raft and then proceeds to lounge on it. Also well-known is that some inflatable rafts have arms into which holes for holding beverages are included.

Further, propellers or motors have been used on inflatable pool loungers in the past. One such motorized pool lounger that was available from the Applicant was sold under the brand name Excalibur. A significant issue with the Excalibur pool lounger was setting it, that is putting batteries in the battery compartment and attaching the motors. The most serious drawback was the requirement to unscrew and screw a number of screws that secured the components that made up the battery compartment. The process was time consuming, tiring, frustrating, and generally led to the user giving up and simply using the lounger as a conventional lounger with no motor.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a motorized inflatable raft includes independently controllable propellers to propel the raft. The propellers are part of a propeller control assembly that includes a power source and a joystick for control. Direction of motion is controlled by rotating independent propeller control assemblies using a joystick controller. Turning on the propellers in an embodiment is accomplished by pressing a button on the joystick controller. Assembly is simplified using an easily screwed screw cap that securely fastens a battery housing that is connected through tubing to the propeller to the joystick controller. This eliminates the hassle associated with assembly in prior motorized inflatable rafts. In an embodiment, power is supplied by a battery power supply placed in a housing.

In an embodiment, a motorized inflatable raft includes a propeller, a propeller controller assembly, which itself includes a battery housing that includes a battery housing cover and a battery compartment where batteries to power the propeller are placed, the battery compartment having a post that is configured to extend through the cover and a screw cap that screws onto the post to securely fasten the battery housing cover to the battery compartment, a back rest, and an armrest having a hole therein through which the propeller controller assembly is inserted.

In another embodiment, the motorized inflatable raft includes a second propeller, a second propeller controller assembly, which itself includes a battery housing that includes a battery housing cover and a battery compartment where batteries to power the propeller are placed, the battery compartment having a post that is configured to extend through the cover and a screw cap that screws onto the post to securely fasten the battery housing cover to the battery compartment, and a second armrest having a hole therein through which the propeller controller assembly is inserted.

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the disclosed embodiments.

It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications could be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an inflatable raft or lounger according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a view from the front of an inflatable raft or lounger according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1C is a view from the rear of an inflatable raft or lounger according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1D is a view from the right side of an inflatable raft or lounger according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1E is a view from the left side of an inflatable raft or lounger according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1F is a view from the top of an inflatable raft or lounger according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1G is a view from the bottom of an inflatable raft or lounger according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a joystick controller and battery housing of propeller control assembly 112 a according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a joystick controller attached to a battery housing cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3C illustrates a battery housing cover for battery housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3D illustrates a battery compartment for battery housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a fully assembled propeller control assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates attachment of wires to a propeller to provide power to the propeller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A-1G illustrate various views of inflatable raft or lounger 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of raft 100. FIG. 1B is a view from the front of raft 100. FIG. 1C is a view from the rear of raft 100. FIG. 1D is a view from the right side of raft 100. FIG. 1E is a view from the left side of raft 100. FIG. 1F is a view from the top of raft 100. FIG. 1G is a view from the bottom of raft 100.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-1G, raft 100 includes a back rest 104 with a back support 106, and arm rests 108 a and 108 b, and a head rest 109. Arm rest 108 a includes a hole 110 a that extends through the inflatable raft. As shown in FIG. 1D, hole 110 a is for accepting a first propeller control assembly 112 a. Arm rest 108 b includes a hole 110 b that extends through the inflatable raft for accepting a first propeller control assembly 112 b. As shown in FIG. 1E, hole 110 b is for accepting a second propeller control assembly 112 b. In an embodiment, arm rests 108 a and 108 b and back rest 104 can be the same portion of raft 100 with back support 106 being a separate portion of raft 100 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1G. In an embodiment, raft 100 also has an extended portion 124 for a person's legs and feet.

In an embodiment, battery compartment 116 a is flanged (closer to battery housing cover 302) to prevent propeller control assembly 112 a from slipping through hole 110 a. In an embodiment, battery compartment 116 b is flanged at the top (closer to battery housing cover 302) to prevent propeller control assembly 112 b from slipping through hole 110 b. In another embodiment, battery compartment 116 a is configured to be wider at the top (closer to battery housing cover 302) than the bottom such that the wider top will not fit through hole 110 a to prevent propeller control assembly 112 a from slipping through hole 110 a. In another embodiment, battery compartment 116 b is configured to be wider at the top (closer to battery housing cover 302) than the bottom such that the wider top will not fit through hole 110 a to prevent propeller control assembly 112 b from slipping through hole 110 b.

In an embodiment, propeller control assembly 112 a includes a propeller 114 a, a battery housing 116 a that holds one or more batteries (not shown) to supply power to propeller and which has a tube extension or attachment 118 a, a propeller 114 a that has a tube 402 extension or attachment thereto, and a joystick controller 115 a. In combination, tube extension or attachment 118 a and tube extension or attachment 402 act as a conduit to provide protection for one or more wires that supply power to propeller 114 a. In an embodiment, propeller control assembly 112 b includes a propeller 114 b, a housing 116 b that holds one or more batteries (not shown) to supply power to propeller 114 b, a tube 118 b that provides protected conduit for at least one wire to provide power to propeller 114 b, and a joystick controller 115 b. In operation, joystick controllers 115 a and 115 b are using to control turning propellers 114 a and 114 b respectively on and off, and propeller control assemblies 112 a and 112 b are rotated using the joystick controllers 115 a and 115 b to control the direction of propellers 114 a and 114 b respectively.

In an embodiment, one or both arm rests 108 a and 108 b includes a hole, such as hole 120, for accepting a beverage container, such as a cup, bottle, can, etc. that contains a beverage. Hole 120 can go all the way through raft 100 from top of arm rest 108 a through the bottom of arm rest 108 a. In an alternative embodiment, hole 120 has a bottom such that the hole does not extend all the way through raft 100. For example, the bottom of hole 120 can be place in a position for the type of beverage container or containers likely to be used by a user of raft 100.

As shown in FIG. 1B, in an embodiment, the bottom of raft 100 includes fins 122 a and 122 b. Fins 122 a and 122 b add stability to raft 100 when moving it using propellers 114 a and 114 b.

Raft 100 can be made from any suitable material, including for example, polyethylene or other plastics. Manufacturing techniques to make a raft 100 in accordance with the description provided above would be well known to those having skill in the relevant arts.

Propeller control assemblies 112 a and 112 b have the same design and operate the same way. To simply the present disclosure, only propeller control assembly 112 a is described in detail herein. Propeller control assembly 112 b is the same. FIG. 2 illustrates a joystick controller 115 a and battery housing 116 a of propeller control assembly 112 a according to an embodiment of the present invention. Joystick controller 115 a include a joystick 202 that has a control button 204. In operation, a user presses button 204 which causes propeller 114 a to turn on to propel raft 100. Further, joystick controller 115 a is in mechanical communication with propeller 114 a to allow the user to control the direction of propeller 114 a by using joystick 114 to rotate propeller control assembly 114 a.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a joystick controller 115 a attached to a battery housing cover 302 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Joystick controller 115 a is attached to battery housing 116 a. Any appropriate attachment technique can be uses, for example, by screw 322 as shown in FIG. 3D. Battery housing 116 a comprises a battery housing cover 302 and a battery compartment 304 that houses one or more batteries. In particular, in an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, joystick controller 115 a is attached to battery housing cover 302 using screw 322. To facilitate the attachment, an adapter extension 205 can be used. Adapter extension 205 is attached to cover 302 using, for example, screws 206 a and 206 b. Joystick controller 115 a is then attached to adapter extension 205 using, for example, screws 206 a and 206 b.

To facilitate assembly of propeller control assembly 112 a when assembling propeller control assembly 112 a for use to propel raft 100, a screw cap 306 is used to securely attach or fasten battery housing cover 302 to a battery compartment 304. This is done by screwing cap 306 to a post 308 that is integrated with battery compartment 304. In an embodiment, a portion of post 308 is threaded to allow cap 306 to be screwed to it to securely attach cover 302 to battery compartment 304.

FIG. 3C illustrates a battery housing cover 302 for battery housing 116 a according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3C, battery housing cover 302 includes a plurality of contacts 310 a-310 f according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, contacts 310 a-310 f are configured to be for alternative battery polarities.

FIG. 3D illustrates a battery compartment 304 for battery housing 116 a according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3C, battery compartment 304 includes a plurality of contacts 312 a-312 f in a plurality of cells 314 a-314 f. In operation, batteries are placed in cells 314 a-314 f to provide power to propeller 114 a. In an embodiment, contacts 310 a-310 f are configured to be for alternative battery polarities.

In an embodiment, to ensure proper alignment of battery housing cover 302 with battery compartment 304 one or more alignment structures are provided in battery housing cover 302 and battery compartment 304. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, battery compartment 304 includes pegs 316 a and 316 b that fit into holes 318 a and 318 b respectively that are provided in battery housing cover 302. Moreover, in an embodiment,

FIG. 4 illustrates a fully assembled propeller control assembly 112 a according to an embodiment. As previously explained, propeller control assembly 112 b is identical. In the embodiment illustrates in FIG. 4, a tube is attached to battery compartment 116 a using a screw 401. Propeller 114 a has a protective case 404 to which a tube 402 is attached or extruded during manufacture such that tube 402 and casing 404 are a unitary part. Tube 402 has two tabs (only one of which, tab 406, is shown) that click into holes (only one which, hole 408 is shown) in tube 118 a to complete propeller control assembly 112 a. The other tab-hole combination is directly across the diameter of tubes 118 a and 402. In an embodiment, tube 402 has a smaller diameter that tube 118 a. Using tab and holes as described allows for tube 118 a and tube 402 to be connected with a clicking sound that lets a user known that tube 118 a has been connected to tub 402.

When assembled in operation to be used with raft 100, propeller controller assembly 112 a is assembled by passing tubes 118 a and 402 through opposite side of hole 110 a as shown in FIG. 1D. The same holds for assembling propeller controller assembly 112 b for use with raft 100 as shown in FIG. 1E.

FIG. 5 illustrates attachment of wires 502 a and 502 b to propeller 114 a to provide power to propeller 114 a. To facilitate access to a junction 504, tube 402 is configured to telescope so that it can be retracted to provide access to junction 504 during assembly, and then extended to facilitate attaching to tube 118 a to, in combination, protect wires 502 a and 502 b and junction 504.

In an embodiment, an o-ring or other sealing mechanism can be placed on the outside diameter of tube 402 or inside diameter of tube 118 to provide better water proofing for operation. For similar water proofing considerations, in an embodiment, an o-ring or other sealing mechanism can be provided for better waterproofing of cap 306 between it and the top of batter housing cover 302, when cap 306 is screwed to post 308.

The terms, “for example,” “e.g.,” “in one/another aspect,” “in one/another scenario,” “in one/another version,” “in some configurations,” “in some implementations,” “preferably,” “usually,” “typically,” “may,” and “optionally,” as used herein, are intended to be used to introduce non-limiting embodiments. Unless expressly stated otherwise, while certain references are made to certain example system components or services, other components and services may be used as well and/or the example components may be combined into fewer components and/or divided into further components.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, while particular forms of the disclosure have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Furthermore, the various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. For example, the inflatable device depicted in the figures above is in the shape of a pool tube, but embodiments are not so limited. Essentially all inflatable devices can utilize LEDs; all inflatable devices utilizing LEDs can be modified, changed, or formed into various shapes, sizes, and themes; and all inflatable devices utilizing LEDs may be additionally equipped with amusement features including water sprayer assemblies, remote controlled propellers, or other inflatable elements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A motorized inflatable raft, comprising: a propeller; a propeller controller assembly having: a battery housing that has: a battery housing cover; and a battery compartment where batteries to power the propeller are placed, the battery compartment having a post that is configured to extend through the cover; and a screw cap that screws onto the post to securely fasten the battery housing cover to the battery compartment; a back rest; and an armrest having a hole therein through which the propeller controller assembly is inserted.
 2. The motorized inflatable raft of claim 1, further comprising: a second propeller; a second propeller controller assembly having: a battery housing that has: a battery housing cover; and a battery compartment where batteries to power the propeller are placed, the battery compartment having a post that is configured to extend through the cover; and a screw cap that screws onto the post to securely fasten the battery housing cover to the battery compartment; and a second armrest having a hole therein through which the propeller controller assembly is inserted.
 3. The motorized inflatable raft of claim 1, wherein the armrest comprises a second hole for holding a beverage.
 4. The motorized inflatable raft of claim 1, wherein the armrest comprises a second hole for holding a beverage.
 5. The motorized inflatable raft of claim 2, wherein the back rest and first and second arm rests are part of a unitary portion of the raft.
 6. The motorized inflatable raft of claim 1, wherein the battery housing has a tube attached to it, and the propeller has a casing that has a tube attached to it, and wherein the tube of the battery housing is attached to the tube of the propeller casing.
 7. The motorized inflatable raft of claim 6, wherein the propeller casing includes a junction for attaching a wire from the battery housing to supply power to the propeller.
 8. The motorized inflatable raft of claim 7, wherein the tube attached to the propeller casing is telescoping such that it can be retracted to provide access to the junction. 